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La.Tech’s Raphael Gladu earns C-USA honor

University News Service
Published 11:58 a.m. CT May 8, 2017

Louisiana Tech senior left fielder Raphael Gladu was the team's first player selected in the 2017 MLB First-Year Amateur Draft, chosen by the New York Mets with the 487th overall pick (16th round) Wednesday.(Photo: TOM MORRIS/LATechSportsPix.com)

RUSTON – Over the past week, Raphael Gladu has been swinging one of the hottest bats in college baseball and on Monday morning he was recognized for it, earning Conference USA Player of the Week honors.

Gladu helped lead the Bulldogs to a fifth consecutive series victory on the road at FIU last weekend. He posted a team-high batting average of .615 for the weekend and picked up eight hits, four of which went for extra bases. Those marks led to a 1.842 OPS for the week, with a 1.154 slugging percentage and .688 on-base percentage.

On Sunday afternoon, with Bulldogs struggling to find an offensive rhythm, Gladu launched a game-tying, three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to temporarily knot the game at 3.

The senior drove in six runs and also scored six runs himself, both of which are team-highs for the week.

Over the past four games, dating back to the series finale against WKU, Gladu has had 20 plate appearances. In those 20 plate appearances, he has registered two home runs, a triple, three doubles, five singles, three walks, eight RBIs and seven runs scored.

Gladu and the Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday night at UL Lafayette for a midweek contest that begins at 6.

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